What is a nota simple?

A nota simple is a certificate given by the local Property Registry which contains a full description of the property you are going to purchase in Spain. This description should include the following information:

-Whether the property has any outstanding debts (unpaid community charges, mortgages or local taxes)

-The full name of the current owner

-The boundaries of the property

-The total square meters of the property (house + land)

-Classification of the property (rústico, urbano, or urbanizable). This is very very important if you are intending to build on the land so be careful

-The rights that others may have over the property (eg public paths, railway lines, pipes or waterways). This is particularly relevant if you are buying property in the Costa Blanca area or indeed anywhere in the Valencian Region (see news item on Valencian land laws)

In Spain, debts may be tied to a property rather than to the owner of the property. This is why you reallly must study the nota simple carefully, with a legal expert if possible.